Wheel-tire



(No Model.)

n W' S' .FIGi I.

if i I l Patented Man. 12, 1889.

f/WM MM.

niTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE;

ANUS W. THOMAS, 0F PHILADELPHIA, IICNNSYI'AIA.

WHEEL-TIRE..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,355, dated March 12, 1889.

Application filed June 30, 1888. Serial No. 278,640. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may conce/'n.-

Be it known that I, AMos \\.'1`ii'onAs, a

citizen of the United States, residing at the K city of Philadelphia, in the countyof lhila delphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tires for the heels of Vehicles, of which the following dis a specification.

My present invention relates to tires composed of elastic or compressible material made in tubular or other desirable form, and such as are susceptible of being inated by causing air, gas, Water, or other aeriform or gaseous fluidsor liquids to be introduzced into them.

My invention, generally speaking, is applicable to the road-Wheels of carriages or other rolling eonveyanees, but more especially to the road-wheels of bicycles, tricycles, and velocipedes of all varieties.

The ina-in object of my invention is to render more durable and serviceable the tires of the road-wheels of such rolling conveyances.

My invention consists of a tubular oomy pressibletire made of rubber or other suitable material of a uniform thickness throughout, but with the portion constituting the tread thereof and opposite to that caused to engage with the rim or grooved folly of the wheel, which I terno the folly-facing portion, of tougher material .than the latter portion, whereby a strongtire is presented, especially adapted for withstanding friction, abrasion, and rough usage of Wear to which such tires are generally subjected in their many appli cations to the road-wheels of rolling conveyances.

The construction of such a tire may be effected 4in more than one way-for instance, it may be niade of material having different densities or toughness. For example, if made of rubber, the tread portion thereof and the .felly-faeing portion may be each made of dough of rubber of different densities, so that one portion may be rendered tougher than the other after vulcaniZa-tion.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated tires embodying the characteristic features of my invention, in Which- Figure l is a transverse sectional view of a tire embodying my invention as applied to a groove-faced metal felly of the character employed in bicycles, and which is shown partly in section and partly in elevation. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of two tires, each embodying the features of my invention and mounted side byside upon a fel l yhavin g two grooves upon its outer face, to which the tires are respectively secured; and Fig. 3g is a transverse sectional view of a tire embodying a modified form of tire in application to a groove-faced metal felly, which is shown partly in section and partly in elevation.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a further description of my invention,- A

` is the tire formed of a continuous endless tube of rubber or other suitable material. a is the tread portieri thereof, which in the making of the tube is strengthened by the addition of material thereto that will give to the saine When finished a tougher nature than the opposite portion, which is made to engage in the grooved face of the felly. sprung into the concave groove of the felly B, and may be held solidly to place therein by means of cementor other glutinous or adhesive material.

In order to infiate the tire after having been secured to posit-ion in the groove of the felly, a tube, C, provided with a cock, D, may be fitted into an opening provided inthe felly to receive it and passed through the same into the interior of the tire, and the liquid or fluid forced through the same forl the infiation thereof.

It will be understood that the tire as a whole is fluid-tight, and after inflation will normally maintain its cylindriforni contour, at the same time retainingthe inflating medium. The degree of eompressibility may be regulated bythe degree of infiation or bythe tension of the inflated medium, and' which may be introduced under pressure. i

I desire it to be understood that Ido not confine myself to the use of rubber for the formation of the tire, yet nevertheless I give preference thereto for the purpose, owing to its suitability, and also from the standpoint of eheapness and economy.

In Fig. 2 are shown two tires, A A, suitably secured to a duplex metal or other felly, B B, with concave grooves in the face thereof'. The tires A A, while made of a uniform thickness The tire may be l IOO of nmlorinl t1lirougliou1,have tyho troiul portiions thoroof umile so als to hv toug'hor than the oppositie or f0lly-t`zi0ing portions'. Tho inilntion ot tho hollow tiros` muy lio :imoniplishml in this instinto@ in tho Sumo nmnnor :is horoinboiorc I'ully (loscribwl.

`In Fig. il is illustrnt-oil :i I'urthor moilitiwttion of my improved tiro, having' projoctions ii and fiQcliv-'Qrging slightly in opposite iliroc tionS,a1ulwliiuh nrohrt'iug'ht intoingng'unmnt with the oxtroinitiohl of tho `:rroovoil full)y` l, :mil hohl thoroto hy vomont or in any olhor pioiorroil innnnor. ought)Y protoot tho oxt roinitios ol tho folly in tho @vont oi.' ('ollzipso otI tho tuho ('olnposing' tho tiro, iluo to loult'n'g'o oll tho liilu'il or iluiil hy whioh il, is inilnlml. tlwroh'v provontinj.; tho V*zum* l'rom ooming in (-ontzwt with tho ground, which wouhl ti-n l to rotnril. tho troo or my movoinont ot tho whool.

llnving thus ilosorilwil tvho 'nature and olijvots ot my invvntion. wlmi: l Claim as new, :unl losiro io sii'nro hy Itottors Patient, is

1. A hollow t iro ol' rulilmr or otlhor material ot1 uniform tliivknoss. linty with th x trcm'l portion thcroot' limito tong-hor than tho folly-facing; portion, lQulistzint inlluv :is mul t'or tho purposes sot, lforth.

An infliitzihlo tiro of rubber or othir nmtoriul ot' uniiorin thifknoss, hut with tho troful portion thorwlf toughor than tho .folly-facing x portion, :nul provided with projections, Sub- 'Ihoso projootions thor- 'lhoprincipalzulvzintngool' in v invontion is that :il vor); strong, tonncious, tough, mul lur- :ihio tirix is proiluoofl, mipnhlo in fi-most Satisl'zuftory nninnor of illust-milling' all friction, abrasion, :unl rough 11S;\ ;'oot\war inoii'lont to the une ot' tiros, :unl ospmizilly in tioirvoni nootion with the mnd-whwls of hifvOhuQ :intl other analogous nimml ot ronviyiuuo.

Stnnt'intllv :is mul for th(` purposes sot forth.

il. An intima-blo tiro having t-hoI tread portion thorooi' mmh toug'hvr than the folly-fac ingr portion, in combination with :i folly having' nfl-itl tiril lwout-oil thoroio, substantially as ilosorilml.

'In witnuss whori-of i lmvi` hereunto sety my signature in tho prosonw of two suhscril'iing wit nosxirs.

A UUS THOMAS.

\\` it nissos:

W. A. WIiITMorw, Hilo. lV. REED. 

